Sir Keir Starmer has said he will not yield to Donald Trump over the US president's threats to annex Greenland, as he prepared to host the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in London.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir said the future of the Arctic island was a matter for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark, and that threats of tariffs to pressurise allies were "completely wrong". He added: "I will not yield, Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs."
The Prime Minister clashed with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who repeated Mr Trump's criticism of the UK's Chagos Islands deal and called on Sir Keir to scrap it. Sir Keir accused her of having "flip-flopped" on Greenland and backing arguments intended to undermine the UK's position.
Mr Trump has threatened to impose 10% tariffs on the UK and other European allies from February 1 unless they agree to his purchase of Greenland, and has not ruled out using military force. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK would not be "buffeted around" by the threat, insisting the special relationship with the US remained strong and that a trade deal agreed last year should not be undone.
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart described the dispute as the most dangerous moment for Europe since 1945, warning that there was a risk Nato could fall apart, which would allow Vladimir Putin to win in Ukraine. He called on the Prime Minister to convene an urgent emergency meeting of Nato to discuss Arctic security.
